Monday, July 30, 2012

Banzai Dice: puzzle app for iphone, ipad



Banzai Dice is a point scoring puzzle app. The object is to create strings of 4 consecutive numbers or 4 identical numbers to score points,  and make those dice disappear from the grid. A string could be horizontal, vertical, in the shape of a square or even a zigzag pattern - but not diagonal.



The left column indicates the next 6 dice to place onto the field. You may place the number in any column where a plunger will finalize the move. However, a 3 cannot go under a 3. If the board fills up, the game is over.

The scoring system is what's most interesting about Banzai Dice.  It's possible to get multiple strings at the same time and that's when the big points kick in.

1 string = 10 points
2 strings = 40 points
3 strings = 90 points
4 strings = 160 points
.
.
.
10 strings = 1000 points.

The scoring system leads to conflicting goals. On the one hand, you do not want the board to fill up. On the other hand, you will need to have the board partly filled to get the multiple strings.

I've played Banzai Dice for the past few weeks. My high score is currently 3130. In that game, I had 13 strings, which was unexpected. I thought I was getting 5 or 6. It's difficult to see or plan the big picture.

Sergey Epifanov, the developer, told me that he had 17 strings on one move, which yielded 2890 points just on that one move.

Banzai Dice is definitely worth your time. Especially if you liked playing Tripevo and NineOut, which are two other point scoring puzzle apps. Will it make the list of 'Best Puzzle Apps of 2012'? Possibly.

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